The possibilities arising from stem cells have resulted in great commercial interest, with potential applications ranging from their use in the reversal of disease, to targeted cell therapy, tissue regeneration, pharmacological testing on cell-specific tissues, toxicology assessment, and more.

Several broad categories of stem cells exist, including:

Embryonic stem cells, derived from blastocysts

Perinatal stem cells, obtained during the period immediately before and after birth

Cancer stem cells, which give rise to clonal populations of cells that form tumors or disperse in the body

Traditionally, scientists have worked with both embryonic and adult stem cells as research tools. While the appeal of embryonic cells has been their ability to differentiate into any type of cell, there has been significant ethical, moral and spiritual controversy surrounding their use. Although some adult stem cells do have differentiation capacity, it is often limited, which results in fewer options for use.

Thus, when induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were produced from mouse cells in 2006 by Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University in Japan, they represented a promising combination of adult and embryonic stem cell characteristics. By 2007, a series of follow-up experiments were done at Kyoto University in which human adult cells were transformed into iPSC cells. Nearly simultaneously, a research group led by James Thomson at the University of Wisconsin-Madison accomplished the same feat of deriving iPSC lines from human somatic cells.

At this time, the following account for the majority of stem cell research:

Basic Research - Understanding stem cell mechanisms and behavior

Regenerative Medicine- Use of stem cells for the reversal of injury or disease

Drug Target Validation and Drug Delivery- Validation of the predicted target using living cells

Toxicology Screening- Use of stem cells to evaluate effects of drugs on biological systems

To facilitate research resulting from interest in these potential far-ranging applications, a large and growing stem cells research products market has emerged.

Large companies selling stem cell research products include:

Thermo Fisher Scientific

BD Biosciences, a Division of Becton Dickinson

Merck KGaA

Miltenyi Biotec

STEMCELL Technologies

Lonza Group

Clontech (a Takara Bio Company)

GE Healthcare Life Sciences.

While several of these dominant market players have utilized acquisition strategies to grow and capture market share, Merck KGaA has had a particularly strong commitment to this approach, acquiring several other massive major players within the stem cell research products marketplace, including Milllipore on February 26, 2010, for $7.2 billion, and Sigma-Aldrich on September 22, 2014, for $17 billion. Dozens of mid-sized suppliers of stem cell research products also exist, as well as over 100 small specialty providers.

Currently, the following compose the majority of stem cell research product sales worldwide:

Primary antibodies to stem cell antigens

Bead-based stem cell separation systems

Fluorescent-based labeling and detection

Stem cell protein purification and analysis tools

Tools for DNA and RNA-based characterization of stem cells

Isolation/characterization services

Stem cell culture media and reagents

Stem cell specific growth factors and cytokines

Tools for stem cell gene regulation

Stem cell services and mechanisms for in vivoand in vitro stem cell tracking

Social analytics for stem cells, including activity on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and more

Communications strategies for accessing the marketplace

End-user survey of stem cell scientists

End-User Survey of 289 Stem Cell Scientists

A distinctive feature of this report is an end-user survey of 289 researchers worldwide that identify as having stem cells as their research focus. These survey findings reveal researcher needs, technical preferences, key factors influencing buying decisions, and more.

The findings can be used to make effective product development decisions, create targeted marketing messages, and produce higher prospect-to-client conversion rates.

Claim this report to acquire an understanding of stem cell market trends, efficiently target emerging opportunities, and accurately identify the current and future needs of your client base.

Input Sources

The content and statistics contained in this report were compiled using a broad range of sources. These input sources include: